The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Woodhall granted on 1410 Jan 8

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In 1410 Jan 8, Robert Waterton, esquire, Thomas de Toveton, clerk, Nicholas Colne and William Baroweby were granted, by Henry IV, (In year 11 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Wodhall in Metheley (Woodhall)

Granted at Westminster. Grant by King.

Comments

Clearly the house was Waterton's but the reason for mentioning the other men is unclear. However the mention of Thomas Towton, the Master of Pontefract Hospital, may suggest that 'Wodhall' was a part of the hospitals lands transfered to Waterton in 1410.

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1909, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1408-13) p. 232 online copy
National Archives SC/8/310/15458 (petition) order copy

(In fact, the original source given is usually a transcription/translation of what are precious medieval documents not readily availably. It should be noted that these transcription/translations often date to the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries and that unwitting bias of transcribers may affect the translation. Care should also be taken to avoid giving modern meaning to the medieval use of certain stock words and terms. Licentia is best translated as 'freedom to' not 'permission'.)

Significant later sources are;

Emery, Anthony, 1996, Greater Medieval Houses Vol. 1 (Cambridge) p. 422

Robert Waterton

In 1408 the Master of the Hospital released to John Waterton of Lincolnshire the rights to Woodhall in Methley which were lands and tenements situated in Woodhall which were part of the Manor of Methley. In 1410 the Master of the Hospital of Pontefract transferred to Robert Waterton, the Manor of Methley in exchange for Manors in Lincolnshire and Wath-on-Dearne thus making John Waterton a tenant of his brother Robert. Sir Robert Waterton the new Lord of the Manor it would seem was a man of great importance. It was reported that in 1399 he had been appointed ‘Master of the Kings Horses and Armour’. He was a confidant of Henry IV and was described in 1404 as the Kings Esquire, he also became Master of the Kings Hounds.
Thomas de Towton Master of the Hospital of St Nicholas, Pontefract.

Biographical source include;

Armstrong Hall, H., 1909, 'Some notes on the personal and family history of Robert Waterton, of Methley and Waterton' Miscellanea V (Thoresby Society 15)
J. R. Whitehead, ‘Waterton, Robert (d. 1425)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2006 http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/54421,

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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